Data Aggregation with ILO Reveals 65% of Indians Benefit from Social Protection Programs
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Synopsis
India has made impressive progress in social protection coverage, with 65% of its population benefitting from various schemes, thanks to a collaboration with the ILO and a thorough data aggregation effort using Aadhaar.
Key Takeaways
- 65% of Indians are covered by social protection benefits.
- Data aggregation utilized Aadhaar across 34 schemes.
- Social protection coverage doubled from 2021 to 2024.
- Current estimates may underestimate actual coverage.
- Collaboration with ILO aims for a comprehensive data picture.
New Delhi, March 25 (NationPress) India has achieved remarkable progress in augmenting its social protection framework through an extensive data aggregation initiative with the International Labour Organisation (ILO). This program has leveraged encrypted Aadhaar as a unique identifier across 34 major Central initiatives, including MGNREGA, EPFO, ESIC, APY, and PM-POSHAN, to sift through over 200 crore records and identify unique beneficiaries, as announced by the Ministry of Labour on Tuesday.
This analysis disclosed that 92 crore individuals, representing 65% of India’s population, are enrolled in at least one social protection program (both cash and in-kind), with 48.8% receiving cash benefits.
The social protection coverage in India has subsequently increased from 24.4% in 2021 to 48.8% in 2024, according to the ILO’s World Social Protection Report (WSPR) 2024-26, which now includes previously unconsidered social protection schemes.
The Labour Ministry indicates that the current estimation of 48.8% social protection coverage by the ILO is likely an underrepresentation, as it does not incorporate in-kind benefits, such as food security and housing assistance, nor does it consider state-administered social protection schemes. Therefore, the actual coverage in India is anticipated to be significantly higher once these factors are included.
To address this, the Ministry has been in ongoing discussions with the ILO Headquarters, focusing on the matter through a high-level dialogue. In a recent meeting between the Secretary (L&E) and the ILO's Director-General during the 353rd ILO Governing Body meeting in Geneva, it was noted that housing and food security are included in a set of extended indicators aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The Ministry of Labour & Employment is actively working alongside state governments and the ILO for a national social protection data aggregation initiative to build a comprehensive picture of social protection coverage in India. State Labour Departments are taking the lead in compiling state-specific data to share with the Central government for further consolidation, verification, and de-duplication, as stated in an official release.
The Ministry initiated Phase 1 of India’s Social Protection Data Pooling Exercise on March 19, during a hybrid meeting led by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. For this phase, selected states including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Gujarat have been chosen for data consolidation at the Central level.
This data aggregation will not only bolster India’s global standing as a leader in social protection but will also enable the Central government, states, and Union Territories to optimize welfare funding and work towards sustainable financing of social protection. It will assist states in identifying unique beneficiaries under their respective social protection programs, as per the official statement.
Moreover, this initiative will enhance India’s capability in negotiating trade and social security agreements internationally, demonstrating the country's commitment to fostering decent work within global value chains, the statement further noted.
